Cartridge-feeding mechanism for automatic firearms



Ma 24 I9 y 27 J. M. BRowNING CARTRIDGE FEEDING HECHANISM FOR AUTOMATICFIREARIS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July 8, 1925 May 24 1927 J. M. BRowNlNGCARTRIDGE FEEDING IIECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC FI`IREARIS Filed July 8, 19252 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 24, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE..

JOHN M. BROWNING, F OGDEN, UTAH; JOHN BROWNING ADMINISTRATOR OF SAIDJOHN M. BBOWNING, DECEASED.

CARTRIDGE-FEEDING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC FIBEARMS.

Application led July 8, 1925. Serial No. 42,301.

automatic firearm of the recoil-operatedy class, such as is shown, forexample, in the Letters Patent of the United States, No.

1,293,021 granted to me on February 4, 1919,r

for automatic machine gun. Said class of automatic firearm hasheretofore usually been provided with a feeding arrangement whereby thecartridges are supplied. to the arm in the operation thereof by means ofa flexible belt.

Under certain conditions of operation, as for example, when a gun isflexibly mounted so as to give it a wide range of movement or ininstallations where two guns are ixedly mounted on opposite sides of anairplane fuselage in position to fire through the plane swept by theblades of the airplane pro- 25 peller the rotary drum type of feed ismore desirable than the belt feed, because it avoids, in the case of aflexibly mounted gun, the provision of a belt container movable Wit-hthe gun or of special guiding means from the belt container to the feedchannel on the gun or both, and, in the case of the fixedly mountedguns, it avoids the necessity of providing for this purpose, either bothrightand left-hand fed guns or guns which have a feeding mechanismreversible, at will, for either right or lefthand feed.

While a main object of my invention is to provide the rotary drum typeof feed in a firearm of the class shown in my prior patent, certainfeatures of my invention are equally applicable to other types ofautomatic firearms.

Other and further objects and advantages will appear from the followindisclosure.

The preferred form of the lnvention is shown in the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 represents, in a partial top plan view, a Browning air-cooledmachine gun with the invention applied thereto; the magazine is shownmore or less diagrammatically, part of the drum being shown in section,and the central fixed part of the magazine being omitted. A cartridge isshown in position for rearward removal from beneath the magazine drum.

Fig. 2 represents, in a side elevation, the portion of the gun shown inFig. 1, the magazine being shown in a central vertical longitudinalsection and parts of the mechanism within the breech casing beingindicated by dotted lines.

Fig. 3 represents a front view of a partial vertical transverse sectionon the line 3 3 of Fig. 1 showing a means for releasably securing themagazine on the gun.

Fig. 4 represents a rear view of a partial vertical transverse sectionthrough the gun taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2, the rear and sideportions of the magazine drum being broken away; this figure shows therelative positions of the foremost cartridge in the magazine and thecartridge fed therefrom into position for rearward removal.

Fig. 5 represents a front view of a partial vertical transverse sectionthrough the gun casing and the barrel extension taken on the line 5 5 ofFig. 2; the breech block and parts of the cartridge feeding mechanismare shown in elevation.

Fig. 6 represents a top plan view of a partial horizontal sectionthrough the breech casing and the magazine drum on the line 6 6 of Fig.2; the relative positions of the cartridge ready for rearward removaland of the foremost cartridge in the Vmagazine are clearly shown in thisfigure. 7

Fig. 7 represents a view similar to Fig. 6, the section being taken on alower plane, as represented by the line 7 7 of Fig. 2, and thecartridges being omitted.

Fig. 8 represents a view similar to Fig. 6, the section being taken onthe same plane, but parts of the feeding mechanism being shown indifferent positions. Figs. 9, 10 and 11 represent the breech block andparts mounted thereon, respectively, lin a left hand side view, in afront view and in a top plan view.

's The machine gun to which the invention is shown applied comprises, asusual, a frame or breech casing having the general shape of arectangular box formed by side plates 1, 1, a fixed top plate 2 at therear portion and a movable top cover 2* at the forward portion, a fixedbottom plate 3, a rear plate (not lOl) shown) and a trunnion block 4closing the front of the casing. To a threaded forward extension of thetrunnion block is secured the usual barrel casing 5, see Figs. 1 and 2.

The barrel 6 and barrel extension 7 are supported and guided for limitedlongitudinal movement in the trunnion block 4 and portions of the casingin rear thereof in a usual manner. The breech block 8 is guided forlongitudinal reciprocating movement in said barrel extension and, whenthe parts are in forward firing position, it is locked to the barrel andbarrel extension by a transversely movable locking block 7 on the barrelextension 7. After the firing of a shot, the barrel, barrel extensionand breech block recoil together a short distance, in which movement thebreech block is unlocked and is then thrown rearwardly against thetension of a reaction spring 9, Figs. 2 and 7, which, together with abuier on the rear plate (not shown) and an additional spring (not shown)acting on the barrel and barrel extension, which are held in a rearwardposition until the breech block has passed through the greater portionof its forward stroke, returns said breech block, barrel and barrelextension to their forward firing positions, in which return the breechblock is again locked to the barrel and barrel extension, all in a usualmanner as fully disclosed in the prior patent above referred to.

In the rearward and forward movements of the breech block a cartridge istransferred from a position above the barrel into the chamber of thebarrel, and the empt shell in the barrel chamber is extracted an ejecteddownwardly through an opening in the bottom of the breech casing.

By the present invention the type of gun disclosed in my prior patenthereinbefore referred to is modified in a number of important respectsto provide a construction whereby the cartridges may be successivelybrought into the position above the barrel by the use of a rotar drummagazine, and transferred from said position into the barrel chamber.

In order that the rotary drum magazine, designated generally by thenumeral 10, may be brought as near as possible to the horizontal planethrou h vthe barrel axis and thereby facilitate t e feeding of thecartridges from the magazine into a position for rearward removal, thefront portion of the side plates 1, 1 of the breech casing, and thetrunnion block 4 are made of reduced height. At its forward portion thetrunnion block 4 is rovided with a vertical post 4 to receive diemagazine 10. Rearwardly of said post the top of the block is iformedwith a seat inclining slightly in rearward and downward direction, asshown in Fig.A 2, upon which a cartridge is adapted to rest prior to itsrearward removal in the manner to be described later on.

The magazine comprises the usual stationary central member 10a and therotary member or drum 10b. The stationary member 10a has a heightdependent upon the number of cartridges the magazine is designed to holdand is provided with a continuous guide Way for the bullet ends of thecartridges, which guide way opens downwardly into the discharge openinthrough which the cartridges pass from t e magazine. The stationarymember has a central opening which fits over the post 4a, the properlocation of the discharge opening and the non-rotation of the member 10on the post being assured by a rib on the post, which co-operates, forthis purpose, with a corresponding groove in the member 10, The rotarydrum 1()b has its outer cylindrin cal portion corrugated in a usualmanner to provide vertical guiding grooves, on the inside thereof, forthe heads of the cartridges, the heads being retained in said guidinggrooves by any suitable means, as the flanges 10c engaging the groovesforward of the heads of the cartridges, see Figs. 1, 6, 7 and 8.Adjacent the perlphery of the fixed central member 10 additionalvertical spacing means, such as the ins 10"l secured to the top of therotary rum are provided between the vertical rows of cartridges.

By this construction, the cartridges in the magazine are advanced towardand successively moved through the discharge opening in the stationarymember 10'L of the magazine in the rotary movement of the drum. In theembodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, inclined portions ofthe guideway in the member 10n are inclined in a direction, whereby thecartridges are discharged from the magazine by rotating the drum 10b ina clockwise direction, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1.

To lock the magazine on the gun, any suitable means may be provided. Asshown in Fig. 3, such means may comprise a latch 11 pivoted at 11'l in arecess in the trunnion block 4, and having an upwardly extending portionprovided with a lookin projection 11b adapted to, co-operate, for t ispurpose, with a shoulder 10e on the stationary member 10L of themagazine. The rejection 11h is bevelled at the top to al ow it to becammed back, when the magazine is placed on the gun, against the tensionof the latch spring 11 seated in a recess in the latch and bearing atone end against the trunnion block. I

In order to release the latch 11 when it is desired to remove themagazine 10 from the gun, a slidably mounted element 12 is provided onthe top of the stationary member 10 of the magazine. This element 12 isactuated in one direction by a spring 12b llO seated in a recess in saidelement and having one end thereof bearing against a plunger 12cextendinginto said recess and supported at its outer end by an abutmenton the stationary member 10 of the magazine. The slidable element 12 hasa downward projection 12a adapted to co-operate with a shoulder 11l onthe latch 11. The element 12 also serves to yieldingly oppose relativerotation of the members 10 and 10h by the engagement of its rounded orV-shaped nose 12d into corresponding spaced notches formed in thereinforced portion 10f of the rotary drum 10b surrounding the centralopening therein, See Fig. 3, thereby providing a frictional lock toprevent relative rotation of the members when the magazine is off thegun but not appreciably affecting the rotation of the drum by themechanism to be hereinafter described when the magazine is on the gun.Sufficient lost motion is provided between the downward projection 12aon the slidable element 12 and the co-operating shoulder 11d on thelatch 11 to prevent the actuation of the latch in. the rotation of themagazine drum by said mechanism.

By this construction the magazine `can be readily removed from the gunwith one hand by lirst pressing the slidable element 12 back against theaction of its spring 12b with the thumb of the hand grasping themagazine drum, and then lifting the magazine ofi' the post 4.

To permit the mounting of the magazine 10 as near as possible to thehorizontal plane passing through axis of the barrel and yet allow therearward removal of the cartridge positioned centrally on the trunnionblock, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 6, the outer cylindrical portion ofthe drum 10b is made of less height than the stationary member 10a ofthe magazine, see Figs. 2, 3 and 4. From this it results that thecartridges in the lowest tier project for a distance approximately equalto one half their diameters below the cylindrical portion of the drum101 and, to prevent the remature passing of the heads of the cartri gesin said tier from the guiden Ways provided therefor on said cylindricalportion of the drum, the lower flange of the guideway on the fixedmember 10 for said lowest tier of cartridges is extended cut- Wardly, asclearly shown in Fig. 2, toward the heads of the cartridges a distancesufficient to prevent any appreciable downward tipping of the heads ofsaid tier cartridges.

The vertical spacing pins 10d on the rotary drum 10" on the other hand,do extend downwar as near to the bottom of the fixed member 10*Il as maybe, and to provide clearance for the lower ends ofthese pins, theoutwardly extended flange at the bottom of the fixed member 10 ispreferably formed with an annular groove, as is clearly shown in Figs.2, 3 and 4.

This construction permits the pins 10", in co-operation with the guidingand holding means now to be described, to perform the importantfunction, in the rotary movement of the drum, of moving the foremostcartridge in the magazine into the central position in which a cartridgeis shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 6, and of holding said cartridge in thisposition until the same is rearwardly removed.

The forward edge of the discharge opening of the magazine 10 is soarranged relative to the breech casing of the gun that the foremostcartridge in the magazine is free to pass downwardly from the magazine,as soon as the head of the cartridge has been moved, in the rotation ofthe drum, inwardly slightly beyond the position of said cartridge, asshown in Fig. 4. At substantially this same position in the movement ofthe drum the forward end of the cartridge is brought into engagementwith the downwardly and inwardly inclined surface 10, see Fig. 4, onthe` stationary member 10 of the magazine to start the cartridgedownwardly. If the gun is upright this downward movement will also `beassisted by gravity. To prevent the head end of the cartridge fromdropping down to its lowest position as soon as, in the rotation of thedrum, the cartridge passes inwardly beyond the forward edge of thedischarge opening, a small horizontal shelf 13, see Figs. 5, 6 and 7 isprovided, this shelf extending inward some distance from the right handside plate 1, of the breech casing. To prevent premature rearwardmovement of a cartridge whose head has been lowered below thecylindrical portion of the drum 10", said shelf is preferably providedwith a vertical rear wall 13a of sufficient height and extending inwardfrom the side plate a sulficient distance, see Figs. 5 and 7, toeffectually prevent such movement until the cartridge has been movedinwardly into the central position `shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 6.

When the cartridge has been moved inwardly, in the rotation of the drum10, until the cartridge head can pass off the shelf 13, the top surfaceof said cartridge is brought into engagement with a downwardly andinwardly inclined surface 14a provided on the combined cartridge guideand stopf14 which is secured in any suitable manner to the trunnionblock 4 as by means of a'screw 14", see Figs. 1, 2, 4, 6 and 7.

The cartridge is, in the further rotation of the magazine drum, now lpositively cammed down at the front and aty the rear, because it isforced into engagement with the fixed cam surfaces 10f and 14, until itis brought into engagement with the substantially vertical faces of therear and front cartridge stops 14 and 15. The Vfront stop 15 is shownprojecting upwardly from the llO trunnion block adjacent the post 4 andthe stop surface thereon is shown inclined rearwardly and inwardly toconform to the taper of the projectiles, see Figs. 1, 6 and 7 This stop15 is preferably formed, as shown, on a separate piece secured in arecess in the top of the trunnion block as by the screws 15a.

It will be seen that, by this construction, the foremost cartridge inthe magazine is positively brought by the co-operation of the camsurfaces 10 and 14 and the spacing and driving pin 10d in engagementwith said cartridge, into a position centrally above the barrel andinclining slightly rearwardly and downwardly so as to permit it to bereadily rearwardly removed, and after having been brought into thisosition as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 6, it is he d therein by thecartridge stops 14 and 15 engaging it, respectively, at the rear and atthe front on one side thereof, and the said spacing pin 10d engaging theopposite side thereof at an intermediate point.

It will be evident that this provides an exceedingly simple yet highlyeflicient and reliable construction for removing a cartridge from themagazine and transferring it into position for rearward removal withoutthe useV of any movable parts other than the magazine drum 10b andthemechanism for driving it step by step, which will now be described.

For rotating the drum of the magazine stepwise in the operation of thegun, mechanism actuated by the reciprocating movement of a recoilingmember of the gun is providedv This recoilingmember is preferably thebreech block because of its long stroke and its weight. To this end, thebreech block is provided in its top surface with a cam groove 16, theapproximate shape of which is clearly shown in Figs. 7 and 11. A feedlever 17 having two arms of approximately equal lengths is pivoted onthe under side of the movable top cover 2a of the breech casing on apivot pin 17 and has at the end of its rear arm a downwardly projectingstud 17b which extends into the cam groove 16 on the breech block. Theforward arm of the feed lever extends to a point adjacent the .peripheryof the drum 10l1 of the magazine and has a laterally offset portion atits end. This end of the arm is provided with a horizontal slot in whichthe feed pawl 18 is pivoted on the pin 18a. A spring 18", Figs. 7 and 8,seated in a recess on the lever arm, moves the pawl to itsjoperativeposition.

As hereinbefore stated, the cylindrical portion of the maga-'zine drum10" is corrugated, and these corrugations form opposed series of equallys aced shoulders on the `periphery thereof. T e point of the feed pawl18 is in a position to cooperate with one of these series of shoulders,so that on each rearward and forward movement of the breech block, themagazine drum 10b is rotated one step.

By reference to Figs. 7 and 8 the action of the feed mechanism justdescribed will be evident. In Fig. 7 the feed lever and feed pawl areshown at the end of a feeding stroke, or at the beginning of an idlestroke, and the breech block is in its forward firing position. In Fig.8 the feed lever and pawl are shown at the beginning of a feedingstroke, or at the end of an idle stroke, and the breech block is in itsrearward position. It will be understood, as most clearly shown in Figs.5 and 7, that the right hand side plate l of the breech casing is cutaway to provide the necessary clearance for the forward end of the feedlever and the feed pawl when moved to the position shown in Fig. 8. Bythe construction shown, the feeding stroke occurs during the4 forward orreturn movement of the breech block, which is desirable because theforward movement of the breech block is less violent than the rearwardmovement thereof after the firing of a shot, and it is necessary, toprevent excessive strain on the parts, that the full drum, which )hasconsiderable inertia, be started from a, position of rest gradually.This condition is attained by the shape of the cam in the breech blockand by the less violent return of the breech block under the action ofits reaction spring 9 and the buffer (not shown).

It has also been found desirable that a positive stop be provided tobring the drum to rest at the end of each -feeding stroke.

,n This is particularly desirable when the magazine is almost empty withonly one or several cartridges remaining therein, for if no otherstopping means were provided, the momentum of the drum would have to betaken up at the end of the feeding stroke by just one or two spacingpins 10d and such pin or pins might, under these. conditions, be bent orbroken so as to render the magazine unfit for further use withoutcorrecting the injury thereto. To this end a stop pawl 19 is provided,this pawl being adapted to co-operate with the series of shoulders onthe drum opposed to the series engaged b the feed pawl 18. This stoppawl, as c early shown in Figs. 1, 5, 6 and 8, is mounted to swing, in ahorizontal slot formed in thel forward vertically thickened portion ofthe top cover 2* of the breech casing, on the pivot pin 19". It is movedto its operative position with the nose thereof in engagement with theperiphery of the drum by the spring 19", see Fig. 6.

In order to move the stop pawl 19 to its inoperative position and tohold it in said position durin the first portion of the feeding strokeof t e feed lever 17 and feed pawl 18, cooperating means are provided onsaid feed lll) lever and stop pawl. Such means ma comprise a downwardprojection 19c near t e free end of the stop pawl 19 which passesthrough a slot in the portion of the top cover below said stop pawl andextends int-o the path of movement of the feed lever. The rear surfaceof the laterally offset portion on the front end of the feed leverprovides a cam surface 17c for cooperation with said downward projection19c whereby the stop pawl is moved to its inoperative position, shown inFig. 8, in the idle stroke of the feed lever, and is kept in saidposition during the first Eortion of the feeding stroke of said lever,ut is released before the feed lever completes its feeding stroke, toallow the spring 19b to return to its operative position with its nosein front of the succeeding stop shoulder on the magazine drum. Thedownward projection 19c on the stop pawl also serves to limit. theforward movement of said pawl when the magazine has been removed.I

To prevent rearward movement of the cartridge magazine drum 10", a stoppawl 20 is pivoted on a pin 20L to swing preferably in the samehorizontal slot as the pawl 19, see Figs. 5 and 8. The pawl 20co-operates with the same series of shoulders on the drum 10b as thefeeding pawl 18, but engages them in a different plane. It is actuatedto its operative position by a spring 20". Its movement is limited inforward direction by a shoulder 20 thereon co-operating with acorresponding shoulder 2" on the top cover 2, see Fig. 1.

By reference to Figs. 1, 2, 5, 6, 7 and 8, it will be seen that thenoses of the pawls 18, 19 and 20 are each formed, at the top, with aforward and downward incline. This construction facilitates the placingof a magazine on the gun, the pawls being, in the downward movement ofthe magazine, cammed back by the engagement of the bottom of thecylindrical portion of the maga-- zine drum with said inclines on thepawls.

The mounting of the feed lever carrying the feed pawl and the stop pawlsin the manner shown and described on the movable top cover 2a of thebreech casing, which cover is preferably hinged, as shown, at its rearend on the transverse pin 2, provides a convenient and compactarrangement of theser parts which permits easy access thereto and to themechanism within the gun casing.

The top cover 2a is arranged to swing downwardly between the sideplates, when in the closed position, so that its top, except at itsvertically thickened forward portion, is flush with the tops of the sideplates 1, 1 of the breech casing. The top of the thickened forwardportion of the top cover 2'L is laterally extended on both sides, theselateral extensions resting on top of the side plates, when the cover isin closed position. The cover is locked in said position by anysuit-able means, such as a transversely sliding latch 21 mounted in acorresponding slideway in the top cover near its forward end, the latchbeing actuated to its operative position, in which a nose thereonprojects into a recess in the lefthand side' plate 1 of the breechcasing, by a spring 21, see Fig. 1.

The means for transferring the cartridges from the position centrallyover the barrel into the chamber of the barrel has been modified inseveral important respects from the prior construction to adapt them tothe rotary drum feed. Because of the necessarily small vertical heightbetween the head of a cartrid e so positioned and the peri hery of therum, it was not found feasi le, as in the prior patent, to combine thefunction of an extractor and a. carrier in one element, because, toobtain the required strength for the rearward withdrawal of thecartridges from the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it would requiremaking such element vertically too high to pass under the periphery ofthe magazine.

To this end a separate extractor 22 is provided, which is pivoted at 22ain a longitudinal recess on the left hand side of the breech block; seeFigs. 9, 10 and 11, and has its forward hooked end 22" arrangedsubstantially vertically above the left'hand one of a pair ofoverhanging fianges forming a vertical guide way 23 in the face of thebreech block, which flanges grasp the head of a cartridge in a usualmanner as the same is moved downwardly from the grasp of the extractorhook 22b toward the barrel axis. The extractor 22 is actuated to itsoperative position by a spring 22, see Fig. 11.

In the last of the forward movement of the breech block the extractorhook 22" passes over the head of the cartridge centrally positionedabove the barrel, and engages into the usual groove therein forward ofits head, whereby, on the succeeding rearward movement of the breechblock the cartridge is rearwardly removed from said position.

To move the cartridge transversely to bring it into alignment with thebarrel axis, a carrier 24 pivoted preferably by' an integral pivot 24ato the left hand side of the breech block in a plane slightly below theextractor 22 and having its forward free end extend forwardly beyond theface of the breech block, is provided. The carrier has a lateral inwardprojection 24" at its forward end which is adapted to overlie acartridge being transferred into the barrel chamber, see Figs. 2 and 5,and also carries at its forward end a pivoted ejector 25 similar infunction and mode of operation to the ejector disclosed in my priorpatent. The ejector is, in this case, mounted so as tov engage thecartridge being transferred to the barrel on the left hand Side insteadof as in the prior construction, on the right hand side. To control thetransverse movements of the carrier a system of cams is provided, butinstead of having one of the cams mounted on the top cover and acting onthe rounded top of a combined extractor and carrier, as in the priorconstruction, the entire system of cams is, in the present constructionmounted on the left hand side plate of the casing, an arrangement whichmakes for greater simplicity of construction.

This system of cams comprises an elongated upper cam plate 26, a switchlever 27 and a lower cam plate 28, see Figs. 2 and 5. Cam surfaces onthese elements cooperate with an elongated integral lateral outwardprojection 24 on the forward portion of the carrier 24. The under sideof the elongated upper cam plate 26 inclines rearwardly and downwardly,the inclination being very slight at its forward portion but increasinggradually toward the rear. In the recoil of the breech'block, thelateral projection 24c on the carrier engages this inclined surfacethereby gradually lowering the cartrid engaged bythe extractor towardthe iirrel axis and causingits head to pass from the hook 22b of theextractor into the vertical liangeway 23 on the face of the breechblock. In the continued rearward movement of the breech block, thelateral projection 24c engages the rear end of the switch lever 27,pivoted between its ends at 27'L and depresses the same against theaction of its spring 27" until, in the last of the rearward movement ofthe breech block, the projection 24 passes rearwardly beyond the switchlever, when the same will be snapped back by its spring 27b into theposition shown in Fig. 2, where it closes the passagewa between it andthe upper elongated cam p ate 26. On the forward movement of the breechblock, the lateral projection 24" on the carrier enga es the forwardlyand downwardly incline rear surface of the switch lever 27 whereb thecartridge is brought into alignment with the axis of the barrel, and inthe further forward movement of the breech block is inserted in thebarrel chamber.

In this last transverse movement of the carrier, if an empty shellremains in the grasp of the angeway on the face of the breech block, itis downwa'rdly ejected by the engagement therewith of the lower end ofthe ejector 25 in a usual manner.

In the forward movement of the breech block while the cartridge is beingpartly inserted in the barrel t e lateral projection 24 on the carrieris guided between the bottom of the switch lever 27 and the top of theleft'hand portion of the barrel extension 7, but, in the further forwardmovement of the breech block to fully insert the cartridges into thebarrel, the lateral projection engages the forwardly and upwardlyinclined rear surface of the cam plate 28,.y

which lifts the carrier, in the continued forward movement of the breechblock, to its highest position to allow its lateral inward projection24b to pass over the head of the succeeding cartridge in position to beengaged by the extractor 22, see Figs. 2 and 5. In so moving to itshighest position, the lateral projection 24 engages the under side ofthe forward arm of the switch lever 27, and raises the same against theaction of its spring 27 which as soon as the projection 24c passesforwardly beyond the lever, returns the same to its normal positionclosing the passageway between the forward end of the lever and the camplate 28.

By this construction, the transverse movements of the carrier arecontrolled entirely, both in the rearward and forward movements of thebreech block, by the engagement of its lateral projection 24 with asystem of cams arranged on the side plate of thelcasing.

While I have hereinbefore described the novel improved feeding mechanismin connection with ran automatic machine gun of the Browning type, itwill be understood that certain features thereof a're equally applicableto other hypes of firearms, and not desire to be limited to theapplication of my invention to any particular type of automatic firearmexcept to the extent indicated by the claims appended hereto. f

I cla'im: 1. In an automatic firearm having a recoiling member carryingan extractor or successivel removing `the cartridges in rearwarddirection from a position laterally of the barrel in the recoil 'of saidmember, the

combination of a cartridgemagazine having.

a rotary element provided with spacing means for the cartridges, meansfor rotating said element step by step, and means cooperating with thespacing means on the element for transferring the foremost cartridge inthe magazine into position for engage-y ment by the extractor on saidrecoiling member and for holding the cartridge in such position until itis removed in rearward direction.

2. In an automatic firearm having a recoiling member carrying anextractor for successively removing cartridges in rearward directionfrom a position laterally of the barrel in the recoil of said memberythecombination of a frame, a cartrid e magazine mounted thereon and havinga ischarge opening and a rotary element for causing the discharge of thecartridges successively through said opening, and means co-operatingwith said rotary element for guiding the foremost cartridge in themagazine through said opening and into position for engagement b theextractor on the recoiling membei' an for holding said cartridge in saidIdol - moved,

position until it is removed in rearward direction by said extractor,said means comprising stop projections on the frame to cngage thecartridge, respectively, at its forward and rear portions, the rearprojection having, a'n inclined surface, whereby the head of thecartridge is brought into position for engagement by the extractor whilethe rotary element is rotated a step.

3. In as automatic fire arm having arecoiling member carrying anextractor for successively removing cartridges in rearward directionfrom a position laterally of the barrel in the recoil of said member,the combination of a cartridge magazine having a rotary drum providedwith spacing elements for the cartridges, means for rotating said drumstep by step, and means co-operating with said spacing elements whereby,in the stepwise rotation of said drum, a cartridge is transferred fromthe magazine into position for engagement by said extractor on therecoilin member and is held in such position until(l it is rearwardlyresaid holding means comprising abutments engaging one side of saidcar'- tridge, respectively, at the front and at the rear thereof and aspacing element of the magazine engaging the opposite side of saidcartridge.

4. In an automatic firearm, the combination' of a frame, a barrel, acartridge magazine mounted on said frame and having a rotary drum, meansfor rotating said drum, means for moving the foremost cartridge in themagazine into a position in substantial parallelism with the axis of thebarrel and holding it in said position until it is removed in thegeneral direction of its axis, and means for so removing it and placingit into the chamber of 'the barrel, said moving and holding meanscomprising a fixed element having a cam surface and a cartridge spacingelement on the rotary drum.

5.*In an automatic firearm having a recoiling member carrying anextractor for successively removing cartridges in rearward directionfrom a position laterally of the barrel in the recoil of said member,the combination of a cartridge magazine having a rotary drum providedwith spacing means for the cartridges, means for rotating said drum, andmeans co-operating directly with said spacing means for transferring theforemostl cartridge in the magazine lnto position for engagement by saidextractor on the recoiling member and for holding said cartridge in saidposition until it is rearwardly removed comprising a fixed cam-facedelement.

6. In an automatic firearm; the combination of a breech block carryingan extractor andy a carrier and having a vertical angeway on its forwardface adapted to receive and grasp the head of a cartridge, the hook ofsaid extractor being in vertical alignment with one side of said angewayand the carrier being adapted to overlie a cartridge engaged by saidextractor when the breech block is in forward position, and

'means whereby, in the movements of said breech block, the carrier isactuated to lower the cartridge from the grasp of the extractor into thevertical flangeway.

7. In an automatic firearm in which thc cartridges are successivelyremoved in rearward direction from a position above the barrel, thecombination of a frame, a cartridge magazine supported thereon andhaving a rotary drum, means for rotating said drum step by step to bringthe cartridges therein successively into said position, a breech blockhaving a vertical flangeway on its face adapted to receive and grasp thehead of a cartridge, an extractor carried by said breech block andhaving a hooked portion to engage the head of a cartridge located insaid osition when the breech block is forward a carrier mounted fortransverse movement on said breech block and having a portion adapted topass between the bottom of the drum and .the top of said cartridge so asto overlie the same when it is engaged by the extractor, the hook ofsaid extractor and one side of said flangeway being substantiallyvertically aligned,

whereby, in the lowering of the carrier to t bring the cartridge in linewith the barrel axis, the cartridge is transferred from said extractorinto said flangeway.A

8. In an automatic firearm in which the cartridge is transferred from aposition substantial y parallel to the barrel and laterally thereof intothe barrel chamber during` the recoil and return of a longitudinallyreciprocating breech block, the combination of a flangeway inthe face ofsaid breech block adapted to grasp the head of a cartridge, an extractoron said breech block having a hooked portion for engaging a cartridgewhen the breech block is in forward barrelclosing position, the hookedportion of said extractor being in substantial alignment with one sideof said flangeway, thereby forming with-said fiangeway a substantiallycontinuous guideway, a carrier having transverse movement on said breechblock, and means for actuating said carrier in the movements of saidbreech block to move the cartridge engaged by said extractor into saidfiangeway.

9. In an automatic machine gun having a recoiling breech block carryingan extractor for successively removing cartridges in rearwarddirectionfrom a position laterally of the barrel in the recoil of saidblock, the combination of a cartridge magazine having a rotary drum, afeed lever carrying a pawl for actuating said drum step by step to bringthe cartridges therein successively into said position, and means foroperating said lever comprising a stud thereon projecting into a camgroove in the top of said recoiling breech block.

10. In an automatic machine gun having a recoiling breech block providedwith means for successively removing cartridges in rearward directionfrom a position laterally of the barrel in the recoil of said block',the combination of cartridge magazine having a rotary drum, a two-armedfeed lever having a feed pawl at one end for engagement with the drum torotate it step by step to bring the cartridges in the magazinesuccessively into said position, and a stud at its other end projectinginto a cam groove in the top of the breech block, the lever, pawl andcam groove being arranged to cause the stepwise movement of the magazinedrum in the forward movement of said breech block.

11. In an automatic machine un having a recoiling breech block carrylngan extractor for successively removing cartridges in rearward directionfrom a position laterally of the barrel in the recoil of said breechblock, the combination of a ivoted carrier mounted on said breech blocand adapted to engage the cartridge being so rearwardly removed, saidcarrier having an integral projection thereon, and cams arranged on aside plate of the breech casing in co-operative relation with saidprojectlon to control the transverse movements of the carrier forbringing the cartridge engaged thereby into alignment with the barrelaxis.

12. In an automatic machine gun having means for feeding a cartridgeinto a osition laterally of the barrel and substantially parallelthereto, the combination of a reciprocating breech block carrying anextractor for removing a cartridge so positioned in rearward directionin the recoil of said block, a pivoted carrier on said breech block forbringing said cartridge, in the recoil and return movements of saidbreech block, into a position for insertion into the barrel chamber onthe forward movement of said breech block, and means for impartingtransverse movement to said carrier comprising fixed cams and a switchco-operating solely with a lateral projection on the carrier to effectsuch transverse movement.

13. In an automatic firearm having a recoiling breech block and meansfor removing a cartridge in rearward direction from a position laterallyof the barrel in the recoil of said breech block, the combination of acam groove in the top of said breech block, a magazine having a rotarydrum for successively bringing the cartridges therein into saidpositlon, and an operative connection between said drum and said camgroove for rotating the drum a step to bring the foremost cartridgetherein into said position on each forward movement of said breechblock.

14. In an automatic firearm, the combination of a casing carrying apost, a magazine seated on said post and having a fixed member and arotary member, a latch on said casing for releasably securing themagazine on the gun, and means on the magazine and separate from Ithelatch for disengagin the said latch to permit the removal o themagazine.

15. In an automatic firearm, the combination of a casing carrying apost, a magazine seated on said post and having afixed member and arotary member, a latch on said casing for releasably securing themagazine on the gun, and means on the magazine and separate from thelatch for disengaging the said latch to permit the removal of themagazine, the said means comprising a slide carried by the fixed memberof the magazine and movable transversely of the post.

16. In an automatic firearm, the combination of a casing carrying apost, a magazine seated on said post and having a fixed member and arotary member, a latch on said casing for releasably securing themagazine on the gun, and means on the magazine and separate from thelatch for disengaging the said latch to permit the removal of themagazine, the said means also serving to frictionally oppose relativemovements of the two members of the ma azine.

This s ecification signe and witnessed this 7th ay of July, 1925.

JOHN M. BROWNING.

